Fire Bowls

Well I have finally let go of summer. The pool is closed, the patio furniture put away and I broke out the blankets for the horses. It's time to turn my attention to fall. With the weather turning crisp, it's time for bowls of chili and bon-fires.

It's just crisp enough that outdoor entertaining is still possible, even pleasant. Tonight is our annual Halloween gathering so we'll brave the haunted corn maze then come home to a stove full of chili. We grab a bread bowl full of chili then head outside to the roaring bon-fire. Lighting our way are the newest addition to Spotted Horse Textile inventory, these are our version of historic Cressets. First seen in Colonial Williamsburg, these are hand made by my husband. Filled with hardwood, they light the way. In colonial times they were used as street lights in the center of town. They could have been hung on the side of a building or like ours, the bowl is atop a long iron stake planted firmly in the ground. Just lovely!!

From France to Bethany Beach, DE

This weekend I was lucky enough to visit one of my pieces in it's new home. How appropriate that a shore bird would end up beachfront. What a story these sacks could tell if they could only talk. From France to Bethany Beach, DE. My clients have this fabulous chair and ottoman showcased front and center in their gorgeous living room with sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean. This may sound silly, but I grow attached to all these pieces as the process to create them is time consuming. I certainly hope that this lovely shore bird feels that he has reached the end to a long journey..

Meet Luigi

Meet Luigi. He is our resident Houdini. I think his gift is fueled by the old saying, "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." Not often, but enough that he can really be a pain in the neck, I will get a glimpse out of the corner of my eye of something out in the yard that shouldn't be there. Yes, you guessed it, it's Luigi. Happily grazing on the "greener grass" on the "other side of the fence." What you have to understand though, is that it really isn't. The grass in the horses field is pretty darn lush and green, it's just that Luigi sees it differently. So here I must go, pj's and all running out into the yard chasing my donkey. I have had to explain more than once to both my work and my son's school that we are late because I was chasing my donkey. Bet you won't hear that excuse very often. There really isn't much chasing actually. I only have to go out, look him in the eye and ask him "what are you thinking" and he will slowly meander back through the fallen fence board back to the field with his buddies. The real trouble starts if the dogs are out at the same time that Luigi gets out. That's when the chasing starts. I think they're playing, but who really knows. The dogs will chase the donkey, then on the next pass the donkey is chasing the dogs. It really is a sight to see and if you don't fall over laughing, well then your a better man than I. I'm really not a man, that's just a saying...

It's Love!! Crabs, corn and Jersey tomatoes!!

I again apologize for the lag time between posts. Life has been a whirlwind lately. Lots to share, but this is on my mind right now. If I had no responsibilities or bills to pay, I would sit on the beach and do nothing all summer. There's a lot of talk, mostly about food, during the day so when I'm finished doing nothing, I would get out of my beach chair and eat some variation of steamed crabs, corn on the cob and tomatoes. Hence my picture of tonight's dinner. Fabulous weekend at the beach with great friends in an over the top house. I got crabs from my favorite road side restaurant which we ate till we couldn't eat anymore. Then the next day, after I spent the day doing more of "nothing" my son and I picked the rest of the crabs. That should now explain part of the picture. My best crab cakes yet, no kidding. They were fabulous!! The corn was, so the sign said, local silver queen and the tomatoes well they're another story. My husband and son can't even look at a tomatoe. But on their way home from a hockey tournament last weekend, they stopped and brought me home Jersey tomatoes. They are the kings of summer tomatoes!! So tonight: tomatoes topped with crumbled blue cheese, silver queen corn..OMG..and the best crab cakes I've ever made...What a fabulous 4th of July. Oh by the way, my dream world is over tomorrow it's back to the real world of bills and cleaning and laundry.

Welcome to Spotted Horse Textiles. I hope my blog will both enlighten and entertain you. Thanks for following.